Overview

Around the world there are thousands of pet statues and memorials with fascinating stories behind them. Some reveal insights into our social history, such as the little brown dog in Battersea that was a focus of suffragette riots. Others have wonderfully quirky origins, like the twenty-three cats of York: sculptures added to buildings designed by a cat-loving architect. Many more reveal tales of courage, loyalty, myth, and legend. From Egyptian cat goddesses and the heroic dogs of war, to search-and-rescue canines on 9/11 and Tombili the Turkish moggy who became an Internet sensation, this book brings together a selection of the most surprising, amusing and illuminating stories, complete with dozens of full-colour photographs. Anyone with an appreciation of pets, the varied roles they play in our lives, and the ways in which our relationships with them have evolved over time, will find much of interest in this book. Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to help fund the UK's first national memorial to service dogs.

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9780718895457

Table of Contents

Reviews

We all know animals play a variety of roles in our lives but few realize how these relationships often manifest themselves in the memorials erected for our non-human friends. Monumental Tales offers a fascinating summary of how grieving humans remembered their pets through time and space. With a focus on individual stories, Jackie Buckle manages to convey through words and images the endless love bestowed on companion animals, the respect granted to service animals and the mystery surrounding animals incorporated into myths and legends. Assembling this information was surely no easy task; animal memorials are everywhere and while many may know where to find memorials in their own towns, their locations are not easily searchable online. Gathering this information represents a monumental task and this book wonderfully demonstrates how an emotional connection with our non-human friends is felt by people everywhere. --Eric Tourigny, PhD. Lecturer in Historical Archaeology Newcastle University In this fascinating and engaging book, Jackie Buckle introduces readers to pet monuments around the globe. Written with an eye to past histories, the book reveals a hidden landscape of pet commemoration and tells the compelling stories of prominent animals and their owners whose lives have inspired monuments. Beautifully illustrated and engagingly written, this book is a great read for anyone interested in pets and their history. -Jane Hamlett,Professor of Modern British History,Royal Holloway University of London

We all know animals play a variety of roles in our lives but few realize how these relationships often manifest themselves in the memorials erected for our non-human friends. Monumental Tales offers a fascinating summary of how grieving humans remembered their pets through time and space. With a focus on individual stories, Jackie Buckle manages to convey through words and images the endless love bestowed on companion animals, the respect granted to service animals and the mystery surrounding animals incorporated into myths and legends. Assembling this information was surely no easy task; animal memorials are everywhere and while many may know where to find memorials in their own towns, their locations are not easily searchable online. Gathering this information represents a monumental task and this book wonderfully demonstrates how an emotional connection with our non-human friends is felt by people everywhere. --Eric Tourigny, PhD. Lecturer in Historical Archaeology Newcastle University

Author Information

For over twenty years Jackie worked for a national drugs charity. Currently she finds it rewarding to volunteer as a pet bereavement support worker for the Blue Cross. She has shared her life with many beloved pets over the years, including, at the moment, a very furry Finnish Lapphund!

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